For Shavuot

Well Worth the Trip!




How often do you plan to go somewhere or plan to attend an event and find yourself wondering if it’s “worth the bother?” That’s what we call a schlep- time and energy to do something about which we aren’t sure. We often feel that way about the trivial things in our lives, the “small” journeys. It is even harder when we start a long journey with mixed feelings. It does, however, happen. We might need to change jobs, or relocate, or make a major decision about our life. We just can’t help but wonder “is it worth it?” or “is it the right thing to do?” That terrible middle-of-the-night feeling that fills us with doubt no matter what we decide. It is a part of human nature. We always tend to wonder “what if…” If it’s any consolation we can at least be assured that we share these little doubts with everyone else. We can also be comforted by remembering that even a luke warm decision is better than no decision at all!

As we read the chapters of the history of our people that began with the exodus we see over and over again our ancestors asked “is it worth it?” How many times did they confront Moses complaining that they would have been better off if he would have left them alone and let them stay in Egypt? In retrospect we can’t imagine how they could have felt that way. It is hard to imagine that anyone would prefer slavery to freedom. I think the truth is that, in those moments of doubt, our ancestors were voicing their fear of the unknown. Better the “security” of slavery than the wide open, empty, uncertain, wilderness that stood between them and the land of promise.

Why was Moses so sure but the people were constantly riddled with doubt? Moses had his eye not on the journey but on the destination- as a leader he knew the trip would be long and hard but he never doubted that it was worth it. To Moses the trip was not just about getting to Israel but rather the trek to Sinai. On Shavuot, May 19th and 20th, we celebrate the greatest journey that any nation has ever made. Leaving slavery, our ancestors arrived at Mt. Sinai to receive the Torah. Their doubts would persist but now they would be a nation- a people reshaped by a Divine law. Was the trip worth it? I think Jewish history holds the evidence- thousands of years later we are here still fulfilling the mitzvot, still participating as partners to bring holiness to a world terribly in need. We are still the living link to that unique conversation between man and God. We have given the world a code that has never been superseded- I would say the trip has been more than worth it!

Our journey through history is still a schlep! It is never easy to walk in the footsteps of Sinai. The journey of the Jewish people continues to take us into unknown territory, through hostile places, through the valley of doubts. But keep your eyes upward- on Shavuot we celebrate the destination. Each time we remember who we are and why we are, we stand at Sinai again.